User reviews

This is a cult classic, that I believe everyone should watch. I was in the middle of the third season when GoT final season aired, and I couldn't put this down long enough to watch GoT!

It's intense, deeply philosophical, and felt like something I was willing to commit more energy into than into any relationship I've had, ever! (While that says a thing or two about me, it definitely says A LOT about this series)

When George Lucas announced that he was to make the Star Wars prequels I had this preconception of a darker, better acted, and more more grown up version of the movies that were made in the late seventies - early eighties. Instead we got a bunch of kids movies, littered with some of the most terrible cinematic decisions ever put on celluloid.

And then the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica came along, which I must add, I watched from start to finish only after the show had made it's debut on mainstream television.

I was initially sceptical of whether this would be any good, but after having reached the finale I can honestly say that this is quite simply the best sci-fi show ever made. The scripts are top notch, the acting superb with a real heart and soul, and characters that, even with their faults, will be remembered with great affection by the viewers for many years to come.

This is the template for all future TV shows. I't does not overstay it's welcome, knows when to stop, and constantly delivers fresh, new ideas as the seasons progress.

Series 1 was a great introduction; series 2 built on the initial success and delivered some of the shows highlights; season 3 was awesome for the first half (until the writers strike kicked in just after half way - but still highly entertaining); and season 4 put the icing on the cake with what I consider to be a tremendous and satisfying end to this great series.

The only downside was that I wished it could have continued, but I guess it is better to exit on a high and leave the crowd wanting more.

For me this has stripped Star Wars of it's crown and raised the bar where although it may one day be equalled, will never be bettered.

Awesome

Before I proceed, I'll just add a quick comment for those slating the series without seeing it: please, stop it. Instead, wait and see what the new show is about and give it a chance. Unless of course, you want to miss one of the best dramas currently airing...

BSG is a very human story. Yet unlike Star Trek, they're not resolved by the end of the episode. Here the characters are real people who make mistakes, grow and learn from their errors. Or maybe they don't...

The point is that in the new BSG, the impact of the loss of the Colonies is something everybody must deal with, be it on a resource-management level to dealing with the loss of their families. The impact of the Cylon attack - never explored in the original series - is a major emphasis in the show and the viewer genuinely does get the feeling of the "rag tag fleet."

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the original series as much as anybody, but it was a product of its time and audience-slot. The new BSG is a much more adult production, both in terms of the writing and performances and the intended audience.

Additionally, the show is very non-sci-fi, but in a good way. Whenever any "science" turns up, it's integrated in such a way as to have minimal impact on the plot and, unlike Star Trek, it isn't used as a Deus Ex Machina to simply resolve the "crisis of the week." In fact, I'd go as far as to say the show is closer to 24 or The West Wing than it is Star Trek or Babylon 5, with the focus being much more on the people and their individual actions, rather than a wide-scale "space opera."

Performances are all strong, with James Callis being the real star. His tortured performance as the guilt-stricken Baltar are a joy to watch as he flips from near-hysterical lunatic to scheming toad to smooth womaniser. Olmos has the presence to give Adama the air of authority required. Sackhoff's performance as Starbuck is "subtly obvious" - she plays the brash, cocky pilot a little too well, something that's explained in later episodes. And Bamber's Apollo is a mix of heroic action and self-doubt which balances well. Mention must also go to McDonnell's President Roslin who, over the course of the series, has grown in stature and presence in a very subtle manner.

Quite simply, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most consistently strong shows I've ever seen. Considering this is only the first of (hopefully) many seasons, it's amazing to see how the show has "hit the ground running," with each episode being an improvement on the last. And considering the high standard of the first one, that's quite the achievement.

Watch it. You won't be disappointed.

I've just finished Season one on Amazon Prime and I must say this is the best sci-fi show I've seen in years. And I've seen all the SyFy channel shows and new SciFi movies of the last few years. I cannot wait to watch the remaining shows. Better by far than the original Star Trek series or movies... it makes Expanse, Dark Matter and other new shows look inept (and I'd resigned myself to fact that those were about as good as we were going to get)... if you haven't seen this series, let me tell you the writing and acting is first class. It's even a little sexy, something you rarely see in SciFi. I'm loving it!!!!

Having watched the original series as a child I put off watching this for some time expecting it to be a virtual remake but with CGI and characters who had been gender switched for no obvious reason... I'm glad I eventually decided to watch it though as I could not have been more wrong! This is nothing like the light hearted original that I loved as a child; series creator Ronald D. Moore has taken the original premise and made something much darker and much more grown up. As with the original the series starts with the destruction of the Twelve Colonies where humanity has settled and the survivors head off into space in search of the mythical thirteenth colony; Earth. Here the similarities end though; the Cylons that destroyed the colonies weren't crated by aliens; they were created by humanity and rebelled against their masters. As well as the familiar Centurions we soon learn that there are some Cylons that can't be distinguished from people and some of those don't even realise they are Cylons. As humanity flees they will have to struggle against both Cylons and themselves if they are to survive and find their new home.

I really enjoyed this series; the story may have been familiar but the characters were much deeper than in the version I saw as a child and there wasn't the feeling that if a character was a regular they would inevitably survive; in fact many major characters die including some that manage to survive for several seasons. The cast did a fantastic job; most notably Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katie Sackhoff, Grace Park, Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan, Tricia Helfer and James Callis... and even listing this many stand out performances seems unfair on the rest as just about everybody was great! Fans of the original series will be pleased to see Richard 'Apollo' Hatch return; this time his character, Tom Zarek, is far from heroic. I don't usually think to comment on the music for a series but here I must as composer Bear McCreary did such a fine job and later on some of the music is actually integral to the plot. As with all series there are some weaker episodes but even the poor Galactica episodes are better than much of what is on television. When the series finished I was left wanting more but all the key story threads had been tied up and it was good that it ended while it was still good rather than overstaying its welcome. If you haven't seen this series yet I strongly recommend it; just remember to watch the miniseries before series one as that sets up the whole story.

1. If you want mindless techno-babble, then this show isn't for you. 2. If you don't manage to appreciate what good... no, let me rephrase that for you: exquisite acting is, then you definitely shouldn't watch it. 3. If you expect to have a crew of four, including a science doctor, an alien, a military and some random Indiana Jones guy, all of them solving new let's-save-the-Earth-before-lunch problems, then skip BSG, is not for you. 4. If you're afraid of seeing real human stories put into a SF shell, perhaps you should go back to Star Trek (and I'm a trekkie too, but...) 5. If you crave to hear 'shields up' or 'engage' or other classic one- liners, then you should rather settle for "frak". Or is it "frakk"? 6. If you're unable to follow a 4 season-long story arc with every episode adding something precious to it without having withdrawal symptoms, then you should really don't give it a try. 7. If all that you want is see people in tight suits flashing laser pistols and teleporting from harms' way, then change the channel. 8. If your interest for spiritual quests, tough sexy girls and people really dying and not returning is something like zero. Oh well, you might skip that 'dying and not returning part' :P 9. If you don't like space battles rendered so real (and with as most care for real physics as a TV SF show can take) that you feel you ARE there. 10. Finally, if you have a mind so closed that you cannot appreciate what the best SF show ever made is all about.

In my opinion, any problem that somebody would have with this show would be his/her problem, not the shows. For the rest of us, BSG raised the bar so high, we almost cannot enjoy other SF shows anymore.

But then... we can always re-watch it, and hope others will learn from it, too.

As a child of the 70's I can say that I loved the original BSG and always wanted a proper return to the story, not that lame attempt called "Gallactica" with the guy from "Adam 12". However, I was skeptical about this new show because of the core changes, like making Starbuck and Boomer female, for example. It didn't matter. This is one of the best TV shows ever made. It's dramatic, funny, sad, extremely dark and immensely engrossing. By changing the character of Baltar from a ruthless power hungry madman in the original to the witless and sympathetic patsy that he is at the beginning of this show creates a whole new dynamic to this character and his development. Adding the president to be a counter balance to Adama instead of the commander automatically ruling over everyone was far more believable than the council full of wusses that were supposed to be in charge in the '78 version.

Bottom line, the stories are more intense, the characters are stronger, the suspense can drive you mad. This show is addictive to say the least. The creators have brought a realism to this idea that just wasn't there in the original. In '78, the show was a campy attempt to capitalize on the Star Wars phenomenon that was definitely entertaining, but was also a little too convenient in its "everything works out by the end of the episode" theme. Life isn't like that. This new version completely escapes from the happy family sweetness of a '70's TV series. Battlestar Gallactica(2004) is a more believable life and death struggle because people actually die in this series. The only noteworthy death in the original was that of Serena, and that was in the first 3 to 5 hours of the series. These people are fighting for their lives. They're not all going to make it. The last scene of season 1 had me and all my friends jumping out of our seats yelling "NOOOOO! They didn't just do that!!! They can't leave it like that!! When does the next season start?!?!?!?!" Not many shows have had that kind of effect on me in my life, and I watch way too much TV.

In closing, BSG(04) is a fantastic show. If you were a fan of the original, savor it for what it was, but give this reincarnation a chance, I think you'll love it.

I am a die hard devoted Trekker. No other show can come close to the series I hold so dear to my heart.... or can it? I watched the mini series on sci-fi expecting to be disappointed. What happened in reality was a show I will honestly say is second to none, the best science fiction out there. The story lines are top notch, the struggles make you feel for the characters, you really get into this show. (that and I have never found a robot so hot before. Did I just say that out loud?) The way the camera moves makes you feel like you are looking out a port hole at the action outside. Its not like other shows, this is hard hitting, nitty-gritty sci-fi. Unlike what we have been led to think the future is not all bright and promising , the future is bleak, hard and depressing. The technology we thought would make our lives easier will in fact be the end of our lives (FEAR THE MACHINE!!) Bad toaster. It is 4 seasons (and final sadly) in and still as entertaining as ever. It will be a sad day for geeks everywhere when the series finale airs. But at least we can live in the knowledge that we were here to see the series to end all series. So Say We All.

When I heard that the Science Fiction Channel (I refuse to acknowledge their new name), I was less than thrilled. The original series was, to put it bluntly, crap. They took a great idea, the near genocide of a species and let it rot. Rather than keeping it within the boundaries they set, Glen Larson and company made it basically, the fugitive in space. I won't go into how there was no science in this at all, no jump engines, no warp, no FTL of any kind. Of how they knew nothing about any astronomy, or the stupid measurements that meant nothing. The writing was horrible, many episodes were just rip offs of movies, the acting barely tolerable. So I was less than thrilled. However, when I heard that Ron Moore, one of the geniuses behind Deep Space Nine, the best of all the Star Trek spin-offs, was doing it. I was interested. Then, when I saw the miniseries, I was hooked. Galactica is a brilliant show that brought humanity back to Science Fiction. As the show went on and more and more plot threads were revealed, the show was shown to be complex, the kind of TV that's been lacking and can only be held up with excellent shows like Dexter and Breaking Bad. Brilliant in every aspect, Galactica is the kind of show that cannot be understood in one viewing, it has to be watched again and again. Galactica led the way for a resurgence of intelligent Science Fiction, with shows like Fringe and Flash Forward following it's example. Four seasons was for some, too short, but for me a perfect length. I eagerly await THE PLAN.

I was a fan of the original and a fan of science fiction, but more so I am a fan of great cinematic television. This show went beyond my wildest dreams. Some people have a hard time with certain dramatic and artistic choices made by the producers, but to me those choices only make the show stronger and gutsier. The new Battlestar Galactica concentrates on characters, drama, and the human condition and shies away from the fantasy, serial elements of the original and others of the genre. A first rate cast with real acting chops help ground the story and characters in a universe where the audience cares what happens to them. This is the antithesis of the original that relied on caricature villains and cartoon story lines. The new show tackles real life issues about human rights, religion, and the moral ambiguity of war. It's no wonder Battlestar Galactica has garnered glowing reviews from Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, TV Guide, and the American Film Institute.

This is going to be very similarly worded to my review for the 'Battlestar Galactica' pilot from 2003, but that's due to having so much of the same great things. 1978's 'Battlestar Galactica' was, and still is, a lot of fun to watch and has a lot of great things, such as most of the production values, the music and the cast. Flaws and all, there is still a soft spot for the show.

At the same time, it was a long way from a flawless show, with the problems more noticeable to an adult audience, such as annoying child actors, the character of Muffit II, the tone not always being focused and too many homages that distracted from the main plot-line. When 'Battlestar Galactica' was good, it was great, as seen with "War of the Gods" which took a darker approach and ended up epitomising what the show is all about. When the show was not good, like with "The Young Lords", it was cringe-worthy.

There was the worry as to whether the pilot mini-series and this show would fall into the same camp as 'Galactica 1980', which had one great episode, "The Return of Starbuck", and one great scene, the attack of the Cylons on Los Angeles, but is down there as one of the most pointless and unnecessary shows ever made. Not only making the mistakes as the original 'Battlestar Galactica' did but amplifying them and making more on the way.

Watching the pilot and this show in its entirety over-time, neither go anywhere near in the territory of being another 'Galactica 1980'. Will be going out on a limb, but both are improvements over the original 'Battlestar Galactica', but other than having the same title and names they are very different and should be judged separately. Speaking of the show, there are improvements over the pilot, Tigh, who was a flat character in the pilot, is much more interesting and developed and Starbuck is more toned down while still showing a sassy, tough and no-nonsense personality.

The shaky camera work occasionally getting excessively for no real reason flaw is still present however, and if you want accurate science fiction or computer science look elsewhere, the science is barely there and lazily researched when there and the computer science is convoluted gibberish. There are also things done worse here, the special effects are not as good as the rest of the production values, not cheap but do look rather rushed. The character of Roslin is also much more likable and heartfelt in the pilot, here the character while showing glimpses of the affecting and complex personality traits shown in the pilot also has an off-putting holier than thou and hypocritical attitude and Mary McDonnell overdoes it at times in the acting, especially some shrill line delivery and her facial expressions.

Judging the seasons, Seasons 1 and 2 are absolutely phenomenal and some of the most riveting television ever made. Season 3 started off great but lost some of its momentum halfway through, while Season 4 was very disappointing with things taking a bizarre and very confused turn, characters being over-written and out of character and then ideas started getting resolved in a flat and simplistic manner and in ways all too convenient and too much by chance.

On the other hand, let's talk about what is so good about 'Battlestar Galactica' (2004) in its prime and why to me it's an improvement on the 1970s show.

The tone is much more consistent. It's dark, bold, moody and sombre compared to the more light-hearted and admittedly sometimes cheesy tone of the original, and while it was different it was interesting and avoided generally being clinical and cold. It clearly knows what tone it's trying to take, without trying to be too many things all at once which would fall into the traps of being bloated and under-explored, and what target audience it's aiming to appease to, without trying too hard to appeal to them. The characters have much more depth, with complex and nuanced personalities (the heroes have flaws as well as strengths, while the more villainous characters are more than standard villains with a sympathetic and humane edge while also being a threat). Baltar in particular is brilliantly developed.

The Cylons are more consistently characterised, being more of a threat rather than being indecisively written, and there are no annoying child actors or any character down there with the likes of Muffit II or Doctor Zee from 'Galactica 1980'. The production values are top notch mostly, especially in the stylish and moodily atmospheric photography when not excessively shaky, the dynamic and foreboding lighting and awe-inspiring sets. The music is haunting and moody with also with melancholy and nuanced pathos without being overly-bombastic or sappy, approaches that would have sounded wrong within the show. The action also crackles thrillingly.

Writing is as layered and complex as the characters, as well as being more focused tonally and the story-lines more consistent. It's very insightful and thought-provoking, and resists going into overload of cheese or mawkish sentimentality. The political, military and social commentaries are powerful. While taking time to develop, the stories when the show was in its prime are still incredibly compelling with a lot going on while still being very much cohesive. There is no padding and the concept is always obvious with little getting in the way. The acting is very good, especially from dignified and authoritative Edward James Olmos and James Callis who brings a lot of dimension to a character much more complex than just your standard villain.

On the whole, not without imperfections and Season 4 really does not live up to the first two seasons but 'Battlestar Galactica' is still extremely addictive and intriguing stuff. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox

Better graphics, updated clothing and most of off better explained although still leaving enough to the imagination!

I was immediately hooked after the pilot, it was that simple. I am a scifi fanatic but, as I grew up, I started demanding more complex movies and series beyond that flimsy scifi rhetoric and technobabble. BSG has it all and keeps it for 4 seasons. In fact, I'm yet to see something even close to BSG quality on TV.

People will try to find weaknesses and point out plot holes. They usually end up begging questions again and again or giving opinions about how it should have been made. Come on... that's laughable to say the least. It's all fallacious talk.

But please, I dare you, watch the pilot and tell me you had the guts to not keep watching the show.

This series took the basic premise of the original 1-2 season show and expanded it. And what a job they DID! This is the best show by far that came out that year. Capt. Adama is played by Edward James Olmos differently than the late, great Lorne Green. He does an EXCELLENT job. As does James Callis as Baltar, and it was bold to cast Starbuck as a woman. She was great in the role. The whole cast was, in fact, very good. The story got a little confusing as the Cylons' motives were revealed and it seemed like the ending (of the show) was rushed. It was unconvincing but otherwise the acting was top notch. The thing was that despite the sci-fi nature of the show, it was really a very good drama.

If I had to give one suggestion to anyone thinking about getting into this show, the most valuable suggestion I could give you would be to watch only the first two seasons, minus the last 10-20 minutes of the season finale of season 2.

Why, you might ask? If they had left the show ending at that point in the show, while it wouldn't polish up everything perfectly, it would still leave a fairly satisfying, but bittersweet ending to the show. Not to mention the first two seasons are HIGHLY entertaining to watch and nearly impossible not to binge watch. While the last two seasons are far less entertaining and rely solely on building up your interest with mysterious plot points only to end with an almost hilariously simple/terrible climax, leaving many (if not most) of those mysteries unanswered.

The show delves into various social issues, competing interests, etc... all in the backdrop of a post-apocalypse in space. Overall, it's incredibly thoughtful as well as thrilling to watch. And unlike most of the greatest shows out there, I can't fault BSG when it comes to a show's typical overuse of interpersonal drama that depends solely on character's awful communication skills, rather than character driven balancing of needs and interests (You know, when you see characters get into a dispute and in your head you're shouting "Dude, just SAY _____ AND THIS WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM! HOW COULD ANYONE NOT THINK TO COMMUNICATE THAT?!" But you just let it slide, because otherwise, the rest of the show is that good that you can overlook that.).

The best way to describe seasons 3 and 4 would be like going to a show of a prominent magician who puts on an incredible show with the promise to reveal the audience how his tricks are done at the end (like Penn & Teller's shows). And throughout the show your mind is running through different scenarios as to how each trick could have possibly been performed. You're dying to know how they could have so thoroughly deceived your mind to create such a fantastic illusion. Finally, the show comes to an end, you're about to finally figure out how they did it. And the magician reveals.... they're actually a sorcerer and there was no trick. They simply willed things to appear and disappear and solid objects to pass through other solid objects. (Obviously seeing someone being an actual sorcerer would be incredibly shocking. Not a perfect analogy, I know. So for the sake of this analogy, let's assume sorcery is extremely common and it would be an unimpressive feat?)

Seasons 3 and 4 take the show from primarily a sci-fi show with religion as part of the backdrop, to a show that then relies heavily on supernatural mysticism. And while I have no problem with sci-fis with supernatural elements, it's the laziness with which it was implemented in to tie up the story at the end. This is the best way I can describe it without spoiling it anyways.

After watching seasons 3 and 4, it'll be clear that the show writers never came up with an ending to the show and that in writing the story and coming up with various ideas for mysterious plot points, they were overconfident in their ability to come up with solutions to them. As a result, the ending feels rushed, is mystifying and completely unsatisfying. There has never been a show or movie that has left me feeling so betrayed at the end after being so thoroughly enthralled with the story. I'd compare it to Lost, but I never really got into Lost. I've heard it compared with it though.

That said, do yourself a favor and only watch the first two seasons, cutting short the season 2 finale by 15-20 minutes. It'll tie up the show far better. Not to mention the first two seasons are far more entertaining than the last two.

If I had to rate the difference between them I'd put: Seasons 1 & 2 - 10/10 Seasons 3 & 4 - 4/10

Which is why I settled on an 8. Just enough to decrease the overall rating slightly as the show ends abysmally, while still acknowledging that the first two seasons by themselves would probably make Battlestar Galactica nearly the best show I've ever watched.

If you are a sci-fi fan, it a must watch. The writing and casting is fantastic. Great ensemble, great plot.

Edgy, gritty, realistic; this series intertwines two genres - post apocalyptic and science fiction. Battlestar Galactica succeeds in the area in which the Star Trek televisions series never even competed - realism. The show gives a look into our foreseeable future: there aren't hundreds of alien races, just the human; there aren't any force fields or tractor beams, put an aircraft carrier into space and you've got Galactica; this isn't a ship full of geniuses and the corps d'elite, these are people that enlisted because they wanted a free education or to satisfy their parents' expectations.

The theme of survival permeates the first two seasons and makes nearly every episode a nail biter. The effects are spectacular, the acting is great, the post-apocalyptic atmosphere is relayed convincingly. The second two seasons lose their purpose early into the third season. Many of the mysteries and puzzles from the first couple of seasons turn bizarre and unconnected. Lacking a clear direction, the storyline becomes filled with love triangles designed to take up screen time and stretch out the season. In lieu of actual plot development, individuals simply betray their character so as to create new melodramas. It doesn't appear that the writers knew how they were going to finish the second half of the series and what resulted was a really rough and misdirected draft. We get a relatively satisfying ending that generally brings the plot to a close. The deeper questions, however, - what is life, what is our purpose, is the human species worth saving - are mangled, mutilated, butchered, and left stinking in an tangled pile. The second two seasons were bad enough as to undermine the first. It is better to have never watched Battlestar Galactica than it is to finish all four seasons. I'll give the first two a collective score of 8/10 and the second two a 4/10.